10. Chi-Chi’s is plotting a comeback next year
Chi-Chi's Restaurants
Tex-Mex casual dining chain Chi-Chi’s was founded in 1975 by Marno McDermott and Max McGee and grew to more than 200 locations during its heyday in the last 20th century. By 2004, however, the chain had closed the doors of its last remaining domestic restaurant. Apparently, however, not for good.
9. Brian Niccol wants Starbucks customers to get their cups of coffee in ‘under 30 seconds’
Starbucks
Brian Niccol’s two-headed vision for the Starbucks of the future — with both faster thruput and an emphasis on third-place — is closer to coming to fruition. In an interview with Good Morning America, the new CEO of the Seattle-based coffee chain reiterated that even though the company is bringing back handwritten names on cups and adding more seating, Starbucks will also focus on wait time optimization.
8. Portillo’s opens ‘Restaurant of Future’ in Grapevine, Texas
Ron Ruggless
Portillo’s Inc. opened its first “Restaurant of the Future” in Grapevine, Texas, on Thursday, debuting its seventh location in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the company said.
7. Starbucks launches a ‘Starbucks for Life’ game for rewards members
Starbucks
Starbucks announced this week a new instant win game for Starbucks Rewards members, in which customers can enter a chance to win “Starbucks for Life” (one daily credit for food or drink for 30 years), among other prizes.
6. Meet Brassica, the Ohio based Mediterranean chain that scored investment from Chipotle
Brassica
In October, Chipotle announced that its $100 million Cultivate Next venture fund — which makes “early-stage investments into strategically aligned companies that further Chipotle's mission to Cultivate a Better World,” according to the company — had made a minority investment in Brassica Sandwiches & Salads, a Mediterranean fast casual based in Columbus, Ohio, with the intent of helping it scale to new markets.
5. Cracker Barrel’s turnaround strategy seems to be working
Cracker Barrel
Just seven months after Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino unveiled a five-pillar transformation strategy for the aging family-dining brand, Cracker Barrel seems to be making a comeback. The Lebanon, Tenn.-based, 727-unit company reported 2.9% same-store sales growth for the first quarter of 2025, which makes two quarters in a row of positive comps.
4. Smalls Sliders sues Smashburger over trademark infringement
Smash Burger, Smalls Sliders
Smalls Sliders, the 19-unit, Atlanta-based burger chain, has filed a trademark lawsuit in the District of Colorado against the Denver, Colo.-based, 210-unit Smashburger chain. The company claims Smashburger’s new logo, an orange, S-shaped burger, is too similar to the logo Smalls Sliders already uses.
3. Menu Tracker: New items from Dunkin’, Olive Garden, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill
We know it’s December because Rudy the Reindeer is the Conehead Sundae currently available at Friendly’s, and also because of the holiday items available at Cinnaholic, Dunkin’, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, La Madeleine, Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub, O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar, Paris Baguette, and Salt & Straw.
2. BurgerFi announces sale of assets, CEO Carl Bachmann’s departure
Burgerfi
In an 8-K filing released Monday, BurgerFi announced that the sale of its assets from both its Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and BurgerFi brands were court-approved. The sale comes shortly after the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September.
1. A bevy of restaurant bankruptcies filled the courts in the past few weeks
Pexels / Lukas
It’s been an awful (and record) year for restaurant bankruptcies so far, and as English singer Morrissey once sang, “November spawned a monster.” Indeed, at least six Chapter 11 filings have been made in the past several weeks alone, impacting everything from eatertainment to chicken and waffles to bakery concepts. Here’s a closer look.
